Homes like the Friesen Housebarn in Neubergthal can be found scattered across Southern Manitoba. Simple and practical in their design, these housebarns are distinctive remnants of Mennonite settlements in Manitoba in the 1870s and 80s.

As the name implies, these structures are homes connected to barns. The Friesen Housebarn specifically was built sometime in the 1890s for Bernard and Helena Hamm, and for nearly 90 years the Hamm (and later, the Friesen) families lived in the building, before it was transformed into an interpretive centre.

Though home and barn are connected, there is a clear visible divide on the facade. The home bears a small porch with gingerbread detailing and a small second-floor balcony that juts out from the roof. The barn looks much like a traditional barn, with red siding and large white-trimmed doors. It is likely, given the rural nature of the community and the neighbouring homes, that the Hamm’s built the house out of nearby materials.

The purpose behind the housebarn is largely practical: in harsh Manitoba winters, livestock can provide valuable body heat and farmers do not have to step outside to check on their animals.

The Friesen Housebarn, alongside the town of Neubergthal, is a National Historic Site.